Edmund John Shannon
Edmund John Shannon (1844-1913) of John Shannon and Son
1844 Born the son of John Shannon, Draper, and his wife Ellen Lee.
1851 Living at 1 George Street, Walsall: John Shannon (age 45 born Scotland), Wholesale Draper, Mayor of Walsall. With his wife Ellen Shannon (age 43 born Walsall) and their five children; Mary Jane Shannon (age 21 born Walsall); Sydney Shannon (age 9 born Walsall); Clara Shannon (age 7 born Walsall); Edmund Shannon (age 6 born Walsall); and Adelaide Shannon (age 1? Month born Walsall). Five servants.[1]
1872 Birth of son John Clark Shannon
1874 Birth of son William Boyd Shannon
1891 Living at Tudor Hill, Walsall: Edmund J. Shannon (age 46 born Walsall). Wholesale Clothier - Employer. With his wife Kate Y. Shannon (age 46 born Scotland) and their five children; John C. Shannon (age 18 born Walsall). Wholesale Clothier - Employer; William B. Shannon (age 17 born Walsall). Wholesale Clothier; Jessie E. Shannon (age 14 born Walsall); Annie L. Shannon (age 12 born Walsall); and Edmund C. Shannon (age 6 born Walsall). Three servants.[2]
1913 August 1st. Died at Harrogate.
1913 Obituary [3]
We much regret to announce the death of Mr. Edmund John Shannon, of the well-known firm of John Shannon and Son Limited, of George-street, which took place, with tragic suddenness, at the Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, yesterday afternoon, at o’clock. The deceased gentleman, who was years of age, had been ailing for some time, and went to this famous spa about mouth ago to recuperate, but on Thursday had a turn for the worse, and passed away as stated.
Mr. Shannon was born in Walsall, and was the son of the founder of the firm Mr. John Shannon, the latter being Mayor of the borough during the year 1850. Mr. E. J. Shannon took over the business some forty years ago, and under his management it has considerably developed.
A company was formed in 1890, and reconstructed eight years later, the deceased occupying the position of chairman, with his two sons, Mr. John C. Shannon and Mr. W. Boyd Shannon, joint managing directors. He only resigned the position comparatively recently chiefly owing to ill-health. The number of employes of the firm exceeds 2,000, which includes the Walsall and Tamworth factories, while, in addition, there are depots in Paris, London, Nottingham, Cardiff, Bristol, and other places. Mr. John C. Shannon is the present managing director, and Mr. Boyd Shannon is one of the directors.
The late Mr. Shannon did not take an active part in public life, but as a politician was a strong Liberal until January, 1910, when he sprung an immense surprise on the town and especially the Liberal party by sending a letter, read at a unionist demonstration in support of the candidature of Mr. R. A. Cooper, pointing out “the absolute necessity of protecting our home industries from the ravages of the foreigner,” and stating that it behoves every true patriot to rally round the standard of Tariff Reform.” He described Free Trade an obsolete system and sent Mr. Cooper his cordial support.
It will also be remembered that he was put upon the Commission of the Peace for the borough, but own request his name was removed. By religious persuasion was a Congregationalist, and for many years attended the Wednesbury-road Chapel, when the Rev. T. Hindsley was the pastor, but during the last few years he lived in the town he attended Bridgestreet Chapel.
Mr. Shannon resided West mount, Highgate, until 1904, when he went to South Kensington, and since then he has occupied residences at Hazlemere, Surrey, Mayfield, Sussex, and Tunbridge Wells. His wife died eight or nine years ago, and he loaves the two sons mentioned above and two daughters - Mrs. Edwards, of London, and Miss Jessie Shannon. We have arranged to give a more extended sketch of Mr. E. Shannon’s life, with a photograph, our next issue.
Note: A long and more detailed biographical note in the Walsall Advertiser - Saturday 09 August 1913